#ReppingTCB

BRACE YOURSELF FOR A GREAT NIGHT OF ACTION FROM THE WELSH CAPITAL

The home of Cardiff Devils is well versed in entertaining great nights of action, a trend which will continue in a different capacity on Saturday Night, The Ice Arena in the beautiful setting of Cardiff Bay will play host to a stacked fight card put on by Saniger Promotions.

SECOND TIMES A CHARM OR THIRD TIME LUCKY – BRACE AND JORNEAC DO BATTLE FOR THE EUROPEAN TITLE

Heading the bill will be Ashley Bracewho will be looking to make it second time lucky in her pursuit of a European title, the decision to drop down in weight to face the much fancied Xenia Jorneacpromises another dramatical affair.

The scene had already been set for a perfect scenario in Brace’s first attempt, given the opportunity to lift the title at her home of Ebbw Vale, Brace gave everything in an enthralling encounter with the durable Spaniard Melania Sorroche, in the end, it just wasn’t to be with the judging making Sorroche the winner only to later call back the decision to reverse it to a draw, not that it was of any consolation to an obviously upset Brace.

Sorrache has since moved on to lift the vacant title by handing defeat to the highly rated Davinia Perez via way of stoppage whilst Brace will try to replicate the achievement at Super Flyweight against another formidable opponent in Romania’s Xenia Jorneac.

The German-based Jorneac has only boxed outside her adopted country twice, which could be a telling trait, both times coming away with losses, the first back in 2015 against Johanna Rydberg in Surbrunnsparken, Ystad, Sweden and the other coming in her voyage title tilt at the hands of Dina Thorslund for the vacant WBC Youth Female Super Bantamweight Title in Struer Arena, Struer, Denmark, she will be hoping its third time lucky as she makes the trip to South Wales but Brace will have other ideas.

WELSH CHAMP GWYNNE READY TO SHINE AGAINST EVANS

The supporting cast will see Welsh Lightweight king Gavin Gwynne take on journeyman Dean Evans. Gwynne originally was due to face Ciaran McVarnock for the vacant Celtic Super Lightweight title but the fight for whatever reason couldn’t be made, instead, Gwynne will get a less testing fight than the one he had last time out.

Gwynne captured the Welsh title in his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil on the first time of asking who’s Rhydycar Leisure Centre played host to brilliant warfare between him and Henry Janes, the win took his tally to 8-0, looking every bit the prospect we had envisaged.

The man standing across from him is Hereford’s, Dean Evans, although not of the level of McVarnock, a quick glance at his record can be deceiving and potentially dangerous for a fighter on his way up, with only six wins to his name, a delve a little deeper will find he has beaten prospects on their way up before, names such as Luke Jones, Josh Nelson and Nathan Kirk so Gwynne will need to be switched on, which is what is fully expected.

WILL GETHING PAY THE PRYCE FOR CHANGE IN OPPOSITION

Pontypool’s Kieran Gethingwill now face former Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce after injury meant Tony Dixon, unfortunately, had to be replaced.

Former Welsh amateur captain, Gething comes into the contest high in confidence with a wide decision win over Kevin McCauley took his tally to 4-1-1, putting his earlier career loss to Aaron Sutton firmly in the rearview mirror.

2017 wasn’t as kind to the seasoned professional Pryce whose last win came against Justin Menzie in 2016, he will look to break a streak of four losses with the latest being at the hands of Scott Fitzgerald.

If Pryce is on his game he can be a test for anyone in the country, potentially could present another stumbling block for the so far impressive Gething, I would have liked to have seen Dixon be in the hot seat but his health is paramount to everything else, as we wish him a speedy recovery.

KENNEDY MAKE HIS COMEBACK AGAINST THE UNDEFEATED GRISUNINS

Kennedy whose last visit to a boxing ring would have been one he’d want to forget in his stoppage loss to Matty Askin in May 2017, will again be asked questions of by the unbeaten Grisunins who was last seen knocking out Sergio Alberto Anjel in his homeland.

This will be the first time he has fought from the comforts of his country in a sink or swim moment for his career going forward, Kennedy with a change in personnel with trainer Gary Lockett tweaking the already vast skillset of the Cardiffian, will now put the months of hard work and frustration to good use on Saturday in another solid match up.

BIG-HITTING THORLEY LOOKS TO TEST HIS POWER AGAINST ADAMU

An early contender for fight of the night, Welsh light heavyweight championNathan Thorleywill make the biggest step up in his career to date in facing Charles Adamu.

Fresh off his knockout of Commonwealth medallist Jermaine Asare, Thorley will now test his skills against a fighter who has mixed with elite level opposition.

He comes to South Wales on a winning streak that dates back to 2016, accounting to five wins on the bounce, albeit in his homeland of Ghana, If Thorley can change that trend he will be doing so with a big statement to the division and the biggest scalp on his resume to date.

WILLIAMS READY TO GET BACK ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL

One of the Uk’s best also finds his way back on home soil featuring former World title challenger Liam Williamswho will be making his comeback. Williams who as many of you will already know is coming off two controversial losses to Liam Smith so will be eager to put his title quest back on track with a contest against Anatoli Hunanyan.

These from a personal point of view are two fights that don’t sit well with me, two of which I believe shouldn’t be on Williams’ record, at the time from ringside as I do on reflection, in the first fight the illegal headbutt should have warranted Williams victory being that he was ahead on the scorecards whilst the second although close, I thought Williams did enough to become WBO Super Welterweight champion but was left like many others with the sore taste of a decision that didn’t go his way.

Hunanyan who is of Armenian decent comes to the fight with a 7-3-1 record, all blemishes coming in the last four of his encounters, the latest being a draw with Patrick Wojcicki in Germany.

I've been in the boxing industry for over 16 years but been a fan for almost double that figure. I'm the proud owner of TopClassBoxing which continues to go from strength to strength as we strive to give fight fans a voice to be heard amongst the community. I've also had several articles published by reputable magazines and you can usually catch me around ringside.